GPA: 3.95 (3.97 if weighted) from a 1st tier university with a low GPA avg (poli sci and econ)

LSAT (three times): Cancel-169-Cancel; I had a panic attack/walkout situation in 2007 when I first took the test. I took it again in June 2009 and got a 169, but was not satisfied as it was lower than my PT's of ~175. So, I took it again in 2010, but canceled that score too b/c I mis-bubbled a section.

SOFTS:

Masters in Public Policy from a top program (GPA ~3.9, worked full-time while attending school)One-year research fellowship in S. KoreaWorked for two years at a defense policy analysis firm

In addition to admission predications, I'd appreciate advice on if and where to ED. As a law and econ devotee, I am inclined to ED at Chicago (top choice) right now, but if you feel that Chicago is out of my reach and I would be better served by throwing a ED at a lower preference, like UVA or Michigan, please let me know.

Also, I'd appreciate any thought on LSAT re-takes. I know 4x over 3 years would look bad, but I feel like I really could do better if I can just control my anxiety. Then again, perhaps 169 is enough for what I want and I should instead concentrate on forging a solid application.

Thank you.

Last edited by OldManWinter on Mon Jun 21, 2010 3:18 pm, edited 2 times in total.

169 isn't high enough for what you want, and if you're consistently testing around a 175, you owe yourself a retake. Since you've cancelled your scores, rather than waiting and receiving poor scores, it shouldn't look that bad. Right now I'd say you're in at Vanderbilt, Georgetown, Cornell, maybe Mich, maybe Duke, maybe UVa with an ED.

Sorry to post three times in a row, but I'm looking at the schools you posted, and you probably do have a shot at all of them, and like I said, you'll be an autoadmit at some, but I still think you owe it to yourself to retake for the $$$$.

I had nearly identical numbers and was in at Mich, UVA, Duke, and Georgetown, WL at Chicago, rejected at Berkeley, and didn't apply to the rest of the schools on your list. I also had worse softs; I wouldn't be surprised to see you in at Berkeley and/or Chicago. Berkeley was pretty much hit or miss with our numbers this cycle and some people were straight admitted at Chicago, but they all had much better softs than I. If you're going to ED to any of them, that's the one I'd pick if I were you. I don't know enough about Stanford to really say there.

ED to Chicago for sure, as long you are willing to pay sticker. Sounds like you have a strong application and your GPA is very good. You definitely have a good shot, so it is a perfectly fine ED choice, though it isn't a safety.

A retake is fine as long as you score higher, though you'll have to hit it out of the park to have a good chance at HYS (some of the few schools who seem to grade more harshly for those with lots of retakes). I think if you get a third cancel or a lower score, it might be a slight detriment to your application (it is true schools don't average, but that isn't to say that they don't interpret your LSAT history when need be; at least at the top schools). And it is not that out of the ordinary to score six points lower than your practice test average - the real thing is always harder. So my suggestion would be to retake only if you push your score from 175 average to 177 average or so... something needs to change so you don't cancel again. Once you hit that higher average, sign up for the retake.

Good luck, you seem like an interesting applicant. I'll also be surprised if one of Berkeley or Michigan don't work out, in the event that Chicago/Stanford don't.